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Thailand won't extradite Viktor Bout
A Thai court Tuesday rejected a U.S. request to extradite an alleged Russian arms smuggler dubbed the "Merchant of Death," dealing a setback to American efforts to try him on charges of plotting to supply weapons to Colombian rebels.Viktor Bout, 42, was arrested in March 2008 at a luxury hotel in Bangkok as part of an elaborate sting in which U.S. agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which Washington classifies as a terrorist organization. He is being held in a Bangkok prison, but could be set free if no appeal is filed. "We will not extradite him to the United States," said Judge Chittakorn Pattanasiri, of the Bangkok Criminal Court. Chittakorn said the court rejected the extradition request because Bout had not been accused of committing any crimes against Thailand, which has not listed FARC as a terrorist group. Latin America's last major rebel army, the FARC has been trying to overthrow successive Colombian governments for a half-century. It has been put on the defensive in recent years by Colombia's U.S.-backed military and has lost support amid reports it is funded by drug traffickers and as it continues to hold dozens of hostages in the jungle. Bout, dressed in an orange prison uniform, jumped up from his seat and hugged his crying wife as the ruling was read out. He then flashed a victory sign to TV cameras as he was led out of the courtroom. The judge said Thai prosecutors have 72 hours to indicate whether they will appeal the ruling, and, if not, Bout will be set free. If an appeal is filed, Bout will be held pending further proceedings. U.S. Embassy deputy chief of mission James F. Entwistle said Thai prosecutors have said they will appeal the case and that Washington supports that. "We're disappointed and mystified by this lower court ruling," Entwistle said. "We think the facts, relevant Thai law, and the terms of the bilateral extradition treaty clearly supports the extradition of Viktor Bout to the United States to stand trial on serious terrorism charges." Posted by: Fred 2009-08-12 |
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